The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-08-24
he Inman Line StasmM City Of hIa.rssl
Destroyed BY Fire.
A Best Containing Six Passengers and Ssven
Members Of the Crew Missing.
Shs Survivcrs Picked Up by the York City
and Landed ct Queenstown.

York August for Liverpool. She was
commanded by Captain Land. The news
of the burning.of the City of Montreal was
learned apon the arrival at Queenstown,
this morning, of the British steamer York
City, Captain Bennett, which left Balti-
more August 4 for London. The passen-
gers and crew of the City of Montreal were
taken off the York City by the tug Mount
Etna and landed at Queenstown. All we're
accounted for except the thirteen persons
in a missing boat. 1t Is learned
had gone to bed on the night of
the 10th, the ship being in latitude 230
north at the time they were aroused by an
alarm of fire. A scene OF CONSERVATION
ensued and the passengers were greatly
terrified when they found out the true
state of affairs. The smoke caused by the
fire was sufocatiDg. The passengers dressed
and got on deck as quickly as possible and
with bat little appearance of panic. The
fire originated in the cotton stored in the
after main hold. Nine streams of water
were soon working on the flames and the
course of the vessel was shaped toward New
Foundlsnd, 400 miles distant. The flames
spread with great rapidity and soon had
burst out with terrific force through the
midway and after matches. the heat being
intense. 1t became evident that it was i'm
possible to save the ship. and momentary
psnic ensued.
The boats were lowered and passengers
and crew got into them. The boats soon
scattered and one entirely vanished. This
contained two stewards, two seamen and
seven passengers, and there is bat little
doubt that the whole boat-load persisted.
The boat did not contain a full crew and
left the city of Montreal against the cap
tains orders, as there was time to take
many more in it. The other survivors
consider the fate of the occupants of the
lest boat as a judgment for their cowar-
dice.
A bark was sighted shortly after the
boats left the steamer and her crew were
preparing to pick up the survivors, when
the steamer York City, attracted by the
flames from the burning vessel, which
were shooting up hundred feet in the
air bore down and with difficulty took all
hands on board.
The rescued people were treated with
the utmost kindness by the ca otaiu and
crew Of the York City, and the passengers
speak with much feeling of the consider
alton which was accorded to them. The
York City proceeded to London after
landing the City of Montrears passengers
and crew at Queenstown. The SURVIVORS
are unanimous in declaring that the
officers and crew of the City of Montreal
did their duty nobly and skillfally.
The names of those of the missing boat,
are: Passengers-Samuel Hoffman, George
Arnold, Samuel Mckee; intermediate;
Kenard Woolton, Stephen Tuppor. Simon
Roelli, 8. Katchinka. Crew-Henry Fra
ger, Charles Roade, William Franny,
Patrick Hughes (trimmer), Charles Smith
lInterpreior), Thos. Wilberforce (steward).
The steamer was worth ABOUT half mil
lion dollars. The insurance is not known.
OhiciaI Report OF Captain Land, the Com
mander OF the Vessel.
QUEENSTOWN, August 19.-Captain Land,
commander of the City of Montreal,
makes the following report:
ION the 10th instant the wind was north
TO northwesterly. About 8 O'Clock of the
evening of that day fire was discovered in
the after hatch among the cotton. The
FIRE hose was at once connected and
streams OF water were poured down upon
the flames. Annihilators and hand gre
made FIRE extinguishers were freely used.
The FIRE, however, overcame all efforts to
suppress it, and spread over the upper
and lower decks. The ship was doomed
from the beginning of the fire, and the
boats had been actively provisioned. At
6 o'clOck On the morning Of the 11tn inst.
the flames burst through the after matches.
The boats were lowered. There was high
sea at the time and this caused much
difficulty. The women and chill
dren were first put aboard the boats, and
the male passengers and the crew were EN-.
barked sfterward. The lack of time pre-
vented the manning of the boats by their
respective crews, the men being COM
PEELED to continue until the last moment
the work OF keeping the flames down.
All the boats left the ship
safely, but by an unfortunate
oversight, twenty people were left aboard
the burning vessel. Boat No. returned
and took of six of the number. Boat No.
5, with the fourth officer took off six more.
A bsrque was then reported approaching
and when ell the boats had put their PEG.
pie aboad her they returned and took of
those remaining on the burning steamer.
II was found that boat No. 8
was missing. She was seen to put her.
self before the wind when she left the
ship, using her oars in support OF the sails.
She ran away from the vessel in direct dis.
obedience to the Captains orders. Every.
body spent the night aboard the German
barque Trabant, Captain Scheel, from
Charleston, July I'd, for London, and all
were then transferred to the York CITY.
which stayed by throughout the night and
ysinly searched for the missing boat.
Capt Land says he Is confident that the
people In boat No. are saved. as the &C
cident occurred in the track OF steamers
bound east and west. The passengers, he
nddad uoro coo1 and oho1fox,f drw;x.~ Al